The GenoRef‑Q project aims to create a genetic reference resource for Quebec by sequencing diverse genomes, to improve understanding of population demographics, identify clinically relevant variants, and enhance tools for health research.
The GenoRef‑Q project (funded by Genome Québec) aimed to create a reference genetic resource for Québec. The initiative enabled the whole-genome sequencing of 2,183 participants from the CARTaGENE cohort, including individuals whose four grandparents were born in Haiti (n=163) and Morocco (n=131).
The data have already made it possible to better understand the province’s demographic history, identify clinically relevant variants, and improve genetic imputation tools, thereby outperforming existing global reference panels.
The data are available to all researchers for health-related research projects. The sharing of aggregated data through the genetic variant browser also represents an initial practical step toward integrating these resources at the international level.
